11. Special Request - Conclusion -
Monster Lord Glag charged at the nearest target, Bella. The massive wolf's bulky body and claws hurtled forward.
Kaang…!
Bella swiftly yanked her greatsword from the ground and used her other hand to shove the blade's body, blocking the sharp assault.
"Tch…."
Before activating her mana, it might've been different, but after? Bella had never been pushed back by sheer strength against anyone. Her body staggering like this bruised her pride a bit. A mere monster….
Saintess Sword Technique 3: Illusion.
"Phantom."
Seizing the opening, Cheong-ah's blade sliced swiftly toward Glag's head. Glag jerked his neck back slightly and bared his enormous wolf jaws, snapping at her sword as if to shatter it.
Kaduduk-.
"How dare you…!"
But contrary to Glag's expectations, Cheong-ah's sword didn't break. It wasn't an ordinary blade to begin with. It was the sword that had clashed head-on with Bella's ridiculously oversized greatsword in the past without a single nick. No matter how powerful his bite, shattering her sword was impossible.
And Cheong-ah knew that full well. The blade wouldn't snap.
Still, the very attempt pissed her off.
Filthy drool on the sword Master gave me…!
Cheong-ah gripped the hilt with both hands and yanked hard. At the same moment, Glag realized biting down wouldn't work. Holding on might even tear up his own mouth if she pulled. He spat out the blade.
Cheong-ah's body lurched backward from the sudden release. Glag lunged to exploit it.
Even as she stumbled, Cheong-ah twisted away, dodging. His stance faltered, and Bella struck.
"Raaah…!"
A beastly roar like always. With it, her greatsword—shimmering with red aura—swung like a baseball bat, smashing into Glag's massive torso.
It looked like it'd cleave him in half, but disappointingly, a Monster Lord's body was tough as hell. Glag flew back, crashing into the ruins.
Kwaaang-!
Hududuk-.
Debris scattered. Glag shook himself up roughly.
-Grrrrng.
"…Strong, you human bitches."
Way stronger than the humans he'd hunted before. Strong enough to stir breeding urges he'd thought discarded upon becoming a Monster Lord.
Powerful females. He didn't grasp human standards of beauty, so looks didn't matter. But those pulsing blue and red auras? Gorgeous.
"I like you sluts. I'll make you submit… and breed you."
His wolf cock throbbed erect, poking out from his fur.
Cheong-ah and Bella's faces hardened coldly at his words.
"The fuck? What'd that bastard just say? Am I hearing shit? He didn't mean us, right?"
"Who knows. Probably not me. Bella, maybe? You're pretty beastly yourself. He might see you as kin."
"Who're you calling a beast, you bitch? Cut the crap. And he said 'you all', you're included!"
"No way. Bella must've misheard. Want me to clean your ears when we get back? I do Ian's a lot now, so I'm pretty good."
"Hah, unbelievable… Fine, you crazy slut."
Bella snorted in disbelief at Cheong-ah's words, then flipped Glag the bird and snarled.
"Anyway, fuck off, dogshit. What'd you say? Holy shit, that dick's huge…! But me and her? We're both taken, pup. How dare you, you fucking—ugh, pissing me off more the longer I think."
-Grrrng.
"That confident attitude? Makes me want you bitches even more."
"Heh, Bella. So popular. I'm jealous."
"…Fuck. Seriously. Never thought I'd hear that from a goddamn monster…!"
Bella kicked off the ground amid curses. Her greatsword aimed for his throat.
Glag ducked simply.
Cheong-ah's thrusting blade followed. Glag dropped to all fours and leaped back.
"Grrrng…!"
A low roar. Glag charged.
Cheong-ah swung her sword along his path. A blue trail lingered, mana scars etched in the air, leaving faint scratches on his hide.
Thick skin.
"…Pretty tough."
Too thick to slice easily. Her blade only managed scratches. The sword that halved ogres in one stroke? Reduced to this.
"Light. Just scratches? No need to dodge."
Glag smirked, realizing her attacks barely hurt.
Cheong-ah's brow twitched.
"Hah. How dare you."
His dismissive words ground her teeth. His claws slashed at her.
Cheong-ah evaded by a paper's width with nimble footwork. Her counter followed seamlessly.
Whish- whishwhish-.
Glag tanked the longsword whipping through the air at blinding speed.
-Grrrng.
"That weak shit."
Just scratches, right? Cocky, he ignored the follow-up.
Bella's greatsword crashed into the fresh cuts.
"Then eat this…!"
Glag raised his arm in panic. The blade hit exactly where Cheong-ah had scratched, digging deep.
Pakaaaak…!
Tender flesh exposed. His arm dangled by bone and muscle.
Glag panicked at the sudden turn.
"Wh-what…?!"
"…Pathetic."
Chwaaak-!
Blue energy surged. Cheong-ah's longsword severed the dangling arm completely.
Glag's left arm spurted blood as it flew. He screamed.
Cheong-ah smirked coldly, blue aura flickering.
"Gaaaahhh…!"
"Mocking us relying on your tough body? Arrogant fool."
Ian's unbreakable barrier? Sure. But this? She shook blood from her blade onto the ground.
"Whoa, arm gone! I know that feel—sucks balls."
Bella sneered. Cheong-ah replied calmly.
"…Let's end it quick."
"Yeah? Was getting annoying anyway…."
Bella shrugged. Red focus gleamed in her golden eyes.
"Monster Lord? Still just a beast. A monster."
From there, the fight turned one-sided.
Cheong-ah's sword scratched the hide, opening gaps. Bella's greatsword targeted them precisely. Once torn fully, Cheong-ah's blue sword energy sliced deeper.
Perfect synergy. Unconscious harmony, not needing to watch each other.
Ian—and even they—hadn't noticed yet. It was one of Ian's buffs' hidden effects.
The cocky Monster Lord, who seemed mildly troublesome moments ago? Lost both arms in a flash, body drenched in blood, leaping back.
Only fangs and shaky legs left.
-Grrrng.
A frightened beast's growl. Glag finally sensed something off.
He'd been pushed by their combo, sure. But he hadn't just taken hits. He'd countered—clawed and punched while his arms held.
Sensations confirmed hits landed.
Yet why?
"How… How are you bitches unscratched?"
Not even torn clothes. The fluttering-sword girl? Fine, her weird footwork dodged most.
But the redhead? She'd clashed like beasts trading blows. How…?
Bella's eyes widened dramatically at his question. Fake shock, just to mock him.
"Oh shit, busted! Hey Cheong-ah, what now? Secret's out!"
"What do you mean? Just finish it. Don't wanna keep Ian waiting."
"True that."
Glag felt doom. Pushed this hard by mere humans? Regretting his mockery, he opened wide.
Humiliating against females, but no choice.
-Awooooooo!!!!!!!!
Howl echoing to the sky.
Bella tilted her head.
"What's that fucker doing?"
"…Dunno. Howling, maybe. Calling buddies?"
"Buddies? That'll be a pain."
Bella scowled. Cheong-ah tilted her neck slightly.
"Yeah. They're coming."
"Huh…? What?"
"His buddies."
Woof woof—dog barks erupted. Werewolves poured from ruins everywhere.
Bella gaped admiringly.
"Whoa… You heard that? Ears like a bat?"
"Well, I'm blind by nature. Had to sharpen other senses to survive."
"Oh, right…? Did I hit a sore spot?"
"Nah. Before Ian, maybe. But with him? Don't care."
"…Fair enough."
"Same here."
Facing the horde, Cheong-ah and Bella readied themselves.
§
While rolling on the ground beside Dina, enduring brief agony.
The battle ended in a blink.
Pain vanished suddenly. Ian staggered up.
Bella dragged the massive wolf head. Cheong-ah walked gracefully ahead.
The two approached.
"Hey, Ju Cheong-ah! Why'm I hauling this solo? Help!"
"I beheaded it, so you carry. Right?"
"No, bullshit! I did most the work—you just finished!"
"Still, I beheaded it?"
"…You psycho bitch! Wanna go?!"
Bella yelled irritably. Cheong-ah shrugged it off.
Bella choked, then grinned.
"Fine, call it a tie on the bet."
"Huh? No, really…?"
"Tie. Solo? I'd struggle. Cool?"
"Hell yeah! So the prize?"
"…Split? Twelve hours each?"
"Perfect!"
"Then now…."
"I'll carry~ Heh."
Bella nodded happily, clueless she'd been had. From context, bet was first to behead wins.
"Yeonja, is the beast girl truly beast-brained?"
"…Shh, Dina. Don't say that."
Watching Bella beam? Yeah. Our Bella's secretly pure-hearted.
"Ian, we're back."
"Yo, Ian! Sis is home!"
Still, if she likes it? Good for her.
"Yeah. Good work."